After our story on people taking selfies at funerals and other inappropriate places, it probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that someone took a selfie at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. The person caught taking the selfie, on the other hand, will probably catch you off guard. None other than President Barack Obama was caught snapping a selfie of himself with two prime ministers today.
Former South African president Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was held today in Johannesburg. Obama was just one of many national leaders in attendance. The president was also a speaker at the service and delivered a moving speech that reportedly received a standing ovation.
“With honesty, regardless of our station or our circumstance, we must ask: How well have I applied [Nelson Mandela’s] lessons in my own life?” Obama said. “It is a question I ask myself, as a man and as a president. We know that like South Africa, the United States had to overcome centuries of racial subjugation. As was true here, it took sacrifice–the sacrifices of countless people, known and unknown–to see the dawn of a new day.”
While many people enjoyed the speech, at some point someone snapped a picture of the president taking a selfie of himself with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Denmark Prime Minister Helle Thorning. As you can see, First Lady Michelle Obama is present and is not participating:
Obama snaps a selfie at Mandela's memorial with David Cameron and Denmark's PM http://t.co/HImZ7a46EU pic.twitter.com/1zJa7HUKA5
— New York Post (@nypost) December 10, 2013
The selfie craze, which many consider to be a form of narcissism, has become so popular that the word “selfie” even earned a place in the Oxford Dictionaries Online and was named Word of the Year. Now that the president was caught taking a selfie, at a memorial service no less, it’s not likely this craze will die down anytime soon.
After the selfie was posted to Twitter, it took no time for folks to start criticizing the president. Did you find the picture inappropriate as well or are people making a big deal over nothing? Add your comments below.
Usually love Obama but taking a selfie at Nelson Mandela memorial service is so inappropriate and disrespectful.
— Katie Ward (@K_T_Ward) December 11, 2013
Obama taking a selfie at Mandela's funeral? #disrespectful #classy
— Lance Fleming (@wild_aces) December 11, 2013
So Obama and David Cameron decided to take a selfie at Mandela's memorial, how rude and immature of them.
— ROO (@aroosahhh) December 10, 2013
[Image via YouTube]